(Columbia, SC) – Almost 25 years ago, the Center for Disease Control declared obesity as an epidemic. Since then, this disease continues to worsen with thousands of American communities – particularly those of color – being decimated by the disease. Instead of addressing this disease head on, our leaders in Washington continue to look the other way and treat obesity as a personal choice as opposed to a national health crisis.
We cannot afford to avoid addressing the issue any longer. The list of potential comorbidities related to obesity range from kidney damage to heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and stroke. A study released by the National Institute on Aging in 2022 shows that obesity rates among adults over 65 has almost doubled since the 1990s, and it is the second leading cause of preventable death in our country with some estimates as high as almost 500,000 annually.
Obesity doesn’t only impact our overall public health, the consequence of ignoring this epidemic is growing more expensive every day. It is taking a toll on our health care system and our economy through productivity losses. Overall, obesity and overweight related costs account for $1.72 trillion, which is 9.3% of the U.S. gross domestic product. And, estimates for national productivity losses range from $13.4 to $26.8 billion.
One of the primary reasons we continue to face this ongoing crisis is because Americans living obesity don’t have access to the proper treatments, care, and support needed to fight the disease. Even though the CDC and AMA recognize obesity as a disease, too often society treats obesity as a personal choice and not a treatable medical condition. The stigma surrounding obesity leaves individuals to fight for themselves. To address this issue, we need to enact regulations that ensures patients have access to the treatments and resources they need including anti-obesity medications.
By treating obesity, we can lower the rate of associated diseases and lower healthcare costs. A new study from the University of California Schaeffer Center for Health Policy & Economics found that Medicare coverage of AOMs would generate about $175 billion in Medicare cost offsets in the first ten years of coverage. After thirty years of coverage, the offsets would increase to $700 billion. Combining the individual impact of AOM coverage with the potential savings to our health care system, we can no longer afford to wait.
Leaders in Washington have been working on making expanding access to these and other treatments for years. We can no longer wait. We have ignored the obesity epidemic for far too long and we are now at a turning point. We must use this moment to reinvest in health care for our communities. We need our Congressional leaders to work with the administration on Medicare coverage policy updates that will help the millions of Americans who need access to lifesaving care by making these medications available through Medicare Part D.
Marcurious Byrd,
Columbia, SC
